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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Smokers get breaks, but breastfeeding doesn't

My daughter is a new mother. She pumps at work, and at home, and it isn't always easy. Her employer recently told her she had to clock out for her break when she pump.

Smokers, however, do not have to clock out, because "it only takes 5 minutes." First of all, iIf her workplace is following legal regulations

the employees must smoke outside.

The smoking area must be at least 25 feet from any entrances and exits.

So these track stars with the lungs coated with the residue of tobacco smoke are going to make it out of the building (usually about 100 feet), to the designated area (25 more feet), smoke, and return in 5 minutes with an Average walking speed of 4 ft per second.

Really? The Internet says the average time to smoke a cigarette is 6-7 minutes. Unless they have the cigarette in their mouth and are lighting up on the way, and puffing like the Magic Dragon, that is not a five minute break. And that does not even consider the health issues.